British scientists have developed a hydrogel dressing for the controlled release of maggot- and insect-derived active products used to promote healing of skin wounds. According to the researchers, there is a resurgence in medical use of larval biotherapy -- intentionally introducing blowfly maggots into non-healing wounds to clean away dead tissue, and it is imperative that the active compounds are released onto the skin, without actual contact with the maggots.

According to the study published in ACS' Biotechnology Progress, "results suggest that controlled delivery of ES as a follow-up to maggot debridement therapy may be an effective therapeutic option for stimulation of tissue regeneration in wound management."

[Photo Credit: Leon Higley, UNL Entomology]